tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15386491284872020192024-03-13T03:43:39.992-04:00Little Bits and PiecesThe web log of horror and dark fiction writer Effie CollinsE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-63382804195461584862011-07-03T12:17:00.003-04:002011-07-03T12:49:13.072-04:00Dusk and Summer by Joseph Pinto - A ReviewHello fiends.Today we are not talking horror. I know. Perfectly awful of me, is it not?No, today we are talking pain and sorrow, yes, but not horror. Today we speak of grief, of cancer, and how one man's brush with those things inspired him to write for a cause."DUSK AND SUMMER", a novella by horror author Joseph Pinto, is an emotional journey of one man who seeks to complete a single, seemingly E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-73652517276785984372011-04-26T17:05:00.001-04:002011-04-26T17:06:16.201-04:00Deadline ExtendedExtending the contest deadline on AW to June 1st. Use the time well, hellions.E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-46719283788509506692011-03-02T17:27:00.002-05:002011-03-02T17:29:59.635-05:00Prizes for AW Contest AnnouncedJust in case you missed it elsewhere.Guidelines now with Prize ListA surprise in those prizes. Want to peek? Go ahead.Make your day.Peace & Love~EffieE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-29268196424142408212011-03-02T00:51:00.004-05:002011-03-02T01:02:10.301-05:00SNM March Issue is LIVE!My first month of selections at SNM was not without its issues... I am just learning the game and how everything works, and February was a short month.Despite that, we have an incredible issue for you. March Marionettes (clickables) is the theme this month, and I would say I couldn't have picked better stories myself, but I did pick them myself. I hope I did the magazine justice.In this month's E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-29534201888960955022011-02-28T12:45:00.005-05:002011-03-01T10:19:05.816-05:00Guidelines posted for the Hounds Contest and.... of course, the ST contest too!I have posted the guidelines for the Horror Hounds Contest and Celebration. Enjoy. We have all the judges now, so writers... get your pens and notepads out!Now... If you read my blog, you probably have heard about Shock Totem a time or two. Or ten. Or a hundred.The March Shock Totem Bimonthly Flash Fiction Contest is here again! Sign up for that is here.There's no reason you can't do both... the E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-47322109427839397492011-02-27T09:54:00.006-05:002011-02-27T10:17:57.486-05:00And so... It BeginsHello everyone.Some of you might know a little bit about a website called Absolute Write Water Cooler. I may have mentioned it from time to time.Over there, I hang out, of course, in the horror section. We call ourselves the horror hounds. Last year, I hosted a writing contest for short stories to celebrate my moldy group of friends. The Horror Hounds Celebration and Contest! See, we love horror,E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-22969871693050429842011-02-01T15:12:00.004-05:002011-02-01T15:23:27.371-05:00Now reading... SNMSubmissions! Oh yes, my little fiends, I am reviewing for SNM Horror Magazine now. Fear my red pen.Steve Marshall called me up one day and asked me how I'd feel about working for the magazine as the selections and reviewing editor. I was agreeable.Now I'm doing the deed, reading stories and making selections. Today is my first "official" day. I'm just hoping I don't screw up fantabulously.SNM is E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-30570755427661837382011-01-29T19:37:00.006-05:002011-01-29T19:57:32.843-05:00Adopt a Cat: It Is Not Only The Young......that want to find a home and family to love.Adopted a kitty today - and not a kitten, a full grown cat. We named her Honey Pot. My son is working at our local animal shelter as a volunteer (though it is not voluntary, yet. He is doing community service for carrying tobacco products to school, but plans to continue to work there as a volunteer after his service hours are complete) and he works E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-47315139566758311782011-01-15T17:58:00.005-05:002011-01-15T18:57:52.337-05:00Meet Draven Ames: Author of horror and other dark fictionHello everyone. I'd like to take a few minutes of your time to introduce you to a fellow horror writer that I've recently come across.I met Draven over at SNM Horror Magazine in the reader's guestbook. We were both in the January Jambalaya issue this month and he commented on my story. After reading his, which was Story of the Month, I was delighted to see that I'd found another horror writer whoE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-13336713603655264002011-01-10T23:17:00.004-05:002011-01-10T23:27:44.158-05:00Spotlight Weird: 6 SentencesWell, it's been a while since I did a Spotlight Weird piece. I have no excuses to give.However, during my busyness I came across this wonderful little publication right here on Blogspot called 6 Sentences. 6S has stories only one paragraph long. At first I was merely intrigued, but after reading some of the pieces, I just kept reading... and reading... and reading. There's really no way to stop E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-21464461686478938212011-01-04T18:05:00.004-05:002011-01-04T18:40:17.051-05:00Multiple Musings and Other Random BSIt's a new year, the holidays are done, and the children have returned to school after winter break. We had a fabulous Christmas, there were tons of packages under our tree. It was slightly ridiculous.Okay, it was highly ridiculous.But it was so fun.Now, I find myself writing a lot of thriller/suspense and contemporary fantasy tales of recent. This is not a bad thing, and yes I do still write E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-73713250966457180442010-11-15T11:35:00.004-05:002010-11-15T12:29:56.842-05:00American Dog - A Reflection on Dogs and the MediaDogs are the best friends of men? A boy and his dog? We take them as pets, we love them, feed them, give them shelter. Their lives are in our hands.As a dog owner, I get weepy when I see those darned ASPCA commercials. You know the ones I mean. Labs stuffed into overrunning cages, poodles half starved and covered with mange. Those commercials are emotional. It's horrible what we do to our E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-55302732253976810282010-10-29T09:07:00.003-04:002010-10-29T09:17:42.588-04:00And soon it shall pass...So, it is time for my return to the woefully neglected world of Little Bits and Pieces. Soon enough, regular postings shall happen. Sporadic silliness, constant craziness and the unfailing barrage of foul language that is... well, me.I know y'all have missed me. Admit it.So, what has Miss Effie been up to? Stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. Some hard, some painful, some enraging. Some I'd just ratherE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-31688144642529812912010-08-31T14:16:00.002-04:002010-08-31T14:42:32.543-04:00The Strange Men in Pinstriped Suits Blog AwardSo, my blog has been deemed strange enough for a pinstriped suit award by the wonderfully odd K.M. McElhinny (clickable).The Rules!1. Add the logo of the award to your blog post.2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you (the strange ones will come after you if you don't...well, not really, but it sounds good).3. Nominate seven other blogs telling us why you think the recipient is strange E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-84923628071734597702010-08-31T13:03:00.002-04:002010-08-31T13:07:15.261-04:00New poem up at Every Day PoetsHello there! I have a poem up at Every Day Poets called "What Round the Corner Waits" (clickable). If you have a moment, give it a look-see. And please, leave a comment there on EDP or here. I'd love to hear from you.Peace & Love,~EffieE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-1337847144433118402010-07-19T23:52:00.004-04:002010-07-20T00:17:57.804-04:00SummerSo, I hate summer time. I know it sounds awful, but I do. It's so damned hot. Give me spring or fall, but keep your fucking summer. I don't want it.I find myself very irritable lately, and with that comes this feel of dripping, nasty sarcasm in my writings. I don't like the tone, so I'm not getting very much done, production wise. Not many words get kept. I can't even manage to keep that tone outE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-29848419444336896112010-07-05T15:48:00.002-04:002010-07-05T15:50:47.441-04:00Black Rainbow FinaleThe final part of Black Rainbow is up at The Piker Press. Have a read.Black Rainbow Finale (clickable)Enjoy.Peace & Love,~EffieE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-79104672703601157402010-06-29T15:26:00.001-04:002010-06-29T15:31:48.628-04:0010 Things Every Writer Should Know....10 things every writer should know before they start writing.1) Basic plot. You need a beginning, a middle and an end. And basically, that is all you need to have. You can fill in the gaps later. Right now, there are more important things than plot to worry about.2) Characters. I don't mean knowing the names, ages and what they look like. You gotta know how old your female MC was when she got herE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-27696723815003439802010-06-28T19:24:00.002-04:002010-06-28T19:27:07.501-04:00Black Rainbow Part 3Yes, it is here. Part Three of my novelette.Black Rainbow Part 3. (click!)Dig it, baby.P&L~EffieE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-18420123891284019942010-06-23T17:01:00.004-04:002010-06-23T17:36:21.828-04:00Writing Without Thinking: My WayOkay. So, a little silence on the blog front from me for a while, other than my novelette pimpage, so I suppose I owe you guys a real post.So, a few years ago, I was in between writing projects and had no new ideas forthcoming. But I felt the need to write. Those of you who write as well, you know that need. Those of you that read... well, it's inexplicable. I'd say it's almost like a need to E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-43227271930272225952010-06-21T22:05:00.003-04:002010-06-22T12:40:11.012-04:00And It's Black Rainbow Pt. 2So, I just noticed that Part Two of my novelette Black Rainbow (clickables!) is up over at The Piker Press. If you read part one, go on and read part two. See what is up with Fox Thomas, Emma and Percy. You don't want to miss it.Blurb: Fox and Emma try to forget what they both want, and can never be ... but even as they push away their thoughts, something else is listening ...P&L~EffieE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-38064493154222064862010-06-14T12:54:00.002-04:002010-06-14T12:59:26.497-04:00What Could Possibly Be Over a Black Rainbow?My novelette, Black Rainbow (clickable), is being published by The Piker Press, and Part One is available today. Go and have a read.Blurb: Years pass, and what seemed would be unending tedium, a habit of living suddenly changes. It feels good, but only as long as Emma and Fox don't think about it too much ...Black Rainbow: Part One of Four, by Effie Collins.Peace & Love~EffieE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-13999590508090321922010-06-08T16:21:00.002-04:002010-06-08T16:35:09.598-04:00A Hisotry of Effie: The Girl You Think You Want to KnowIt is the end of the school year here and the flurry has descended. Today was the very last day of school and the kids are home. Arguments have ensued and I am wishing heartily for the biggest Xanax they ever made.Sometimes those cravings just refuse to stay gone.There have been questions as to what kind of person I am... some people don't believe that my picture and I are the same person, or E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-71483192881218236932010-06-06T15:12:00.002-04:002010-06-06T15:16:14.717-04:00Hold me to it Pt. 6This week's word count is good stuff, people.The grand total is 4011 words on various short stories. I've done no work on the novel rewrite, but there are reasons for that. Real life sometimes only leaves so much room for writing time.I did have a poem accepted for publication though, so that's something.I have not been setting goals for this and I think that's best. I do well with a deadline, E. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1538649128487202019.post-38515609453815048092010-06-01T13:42:00.005-04:002010-06-01T23:21:26.300-04:00Spotlight Weird: Necrotic TissueNecrotic Tissue: Issue 10: 04/2010.Cover work is something that can grab you as you pass it by on the shelf. Strategically placed, the cover of a novel, or a magazine, can make you stop, pick it up, browse. Maybe buy.Necrotic Tissue (clickable) has stellar cover art, they have stellar stories, they are, to be frank, an awesome magazine. Sadly, you might not find them on your local store's shelvesE. F. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042689170327191176noreply@blogger.com6